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List of baseball parks in Newark, New Jersey facts for kids

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Newark, New Jersey, has a rich history with professional baseball, hosting many teams and games over the years. From the early days of baseball to more modern times, several parks in Newark and nearby towns served as home fields for exciting teams. Let's explore some of these historic baseball venues!

Historic Baseball Parks in Newark

Waverly Fairgrounds: An Early Baseball Home

The Waverly Fairgrounds, also known as Waverly Park, was one of the earliest places where professional baseball was played in the Newark area.

  • Teams that played here: The Elizabeth Resolutes played here in 1873 as part of the National Association, one of the first professional baseball leagues.
  • Where it was: This park was located in a community called Waverly.
  • What's there now: Today, this area is part of Weequahic Park in Newark.

Wright Street Grounds: Home to Many Teams

The Wright Street Grounds saw several Newark teams come and go in the late 1800s.

  • Teams that played here:
    • The Newark Domestics, later called the Little Giants, played in the Eastern League from 1884 to 1886.
    • The Newark Giants played here in 1887.
    • The Newark Trunkmakers were here for one year in 1888.
    • The Newark Little Giants returned for the Atlantic Association in 1889 and 1890.
  • Where it was: This park was located on a city block near Wright Street and Avenue A.

Shooting Park: A Park in Vailsburg

Shooting Park, also known as Schützen Park, hosted a team from the Atlantic League.

  • Team that played here: The Newark team played here.
  • Where it was: The park was located near South Orange Avenue and Munn Avenue.
  • What's there now: This property eventually became Vailsburg Park.

Wiedenmayer's Park: A Long-Standing Venue

Wiedenmayer's Park was a significant baseball park for many years in Newark.

  • Teams that played here:
    • The Newark Sailors and later the Indians played in the Eastern League and International League from 1902 to 1918.
    • The Newark Cubans also played here in 1914.
    • This park even hosted one American League game on July 17, 1904!
  • Where it was: It was located near Hamburgh Place (now Wilson Avenue) and Avenue L.
  • What's there now: Today, you'll find Avenue L extended and some food businesses in this area.
  • Learn more: You can read more about this ballpark in a [SABR article].

Morris Park: A Brief Stop

Morris Park was another baseball venue in Newark, though it only hosted a team for one season.

  • Team that played here: A Newark team played in the Atlantic League here in 1907.
  • Where it was: It was located on Bloomfield Avenue.

Harrison Park: Home to the Peppers and Bears

Harrison Park, also called Harrison Field or Federal League Park, was an important park in nearby Harrison, New Jersey.

  • Teams that played here:
    • The Newark Peppers played here in the Federal League in 1915.
    • The Newark Bears played in the International League here from 1919, and again from 1921 until the field sadly burned down on August 18, 1923.
  • Where it was: This park was located in Harrison, New Jersey, near Middlesex Street (now Angelo Cifelli Drive).
  • What's there now: An industrial plant now stands on the site.
  • Learn more: Find out more about this ballpark in a [SABR article].

Meadowbrook Oval: A Park with Different Names

The Meadowbrook Oval, also known as Meadowbrook Field or Asylum Oval, hosted teams in the 1920s and 1930s.

  • Teams that played here:
    • The Newark Bears played in the International League here from 1924 to 1926.
    • The Newark Dodgers, a team from the Negro National League, played here in 1934 and 1935.
  • Where it was: It was located near South Orange Avenue and South 12th Street.
  • What's there now: Today, West Side High School is located on this site.

Ruppert Stadium: A Famous Newark Ballpark

Ruppert Stadium, originally called Davids' Stadium and then Bears Stadium, was one of Newark's most famous baseball parks.

  • Teams that played here:
    • The Newark Bears played in the International League here for many years, from 1926 to 1949.
    • The Newark Eagles, a legendary team from the Negro National League, also called this park home from 1936 to 1948.
    • Sometimes, even major league baseball games were played here!
  • Other sports: The Newark Bears football team played here in 1926.
  • Where it was: It was located near Hamburgh Place (now Wilson Avenue) and Avenue L.
  • What's there now: An industrial plant now occupies the area.
  • Learn more: You can read more about this historic stadium in a [SABR article].

Newark Schools Stadium: A Short-Lived Home

The Newark Schools Stadium, first known as City Field, briefly hosted a professional team.

  • Team that played here: The Newark Stars played part of a season in the Eastern Colored League here in 1926.
  • Where it was: It was located near North 10th Street and 1st Avenue West.
  • What's there now: The stadium was rebuilt in 2011 and is still in use today.

Sprague Field: Baseball in Bloomfield

Sprague Field, also called General Electric Field, was a baseball park located in Bloomfield, New Jersey, a town next to Newark.

  • Team that played here: The Newark Browns played in the East-West League here in 1932.
  • Where it was: It was located near Bloomfield Avenue and LaFrance Avenue.
  • What's there now: Today, this area is Felton Playground.
  • Learn more: Discover more about Sprague Field in a [SABR article].

Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium: A Modern Ballpark

The Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium was a more recent baseball park in Newark.

  • Team that played here: The Newark Bears played in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball here from 1999 to 2013.
  • Where it was: It was located at 450 Broad Street, near Division Street and the Passaic River.
  • What's there now: The stadium has been taken down, and the land is being redeveloped for new uses.

See also

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